What is EPET?

EPET stands for English Proficiency Evaluation Test. It provides information about a student’s level of English. Students cannot pass or fail the EPET. It uses a sliding scale (1-14) to identify level of proficiency for a student and is used to determine the length of ELICOS (English language learning) they will require before they can enter in a mainstream Australian classroom.

Location and Requirements

The EPET can be completed in person or online. If in-person, it will take place at Adelaide International School. If online, our preferred platform is Zoom. Students follow a provided weblink and do not need to download a program. They must have access to the internet and a webcam.

Structure

The EPET has two parts:

1. an interview （10-15mins）
2. a writing task （45mins）

Part one: Interview

The interview takes 10-15 minutes. It is a friendly conversation guided by the interviewer. Questions will vary from student to student depending on the interests and language level of the student. For example, if a student is asked about their interests and responds with the topic of basketball, the interviewer may ask more questions about why they like basketball, how long they have been playing and if they had a game last weekend. Students are also asked to view an image and answer questions related to the image.

Part two: Writing

Students have up to 45 minutes to complete the writing task. The interviewer will explain the writing prompt and have a brief discussion with the student about expectations. The student will need lined writing paper and a pen or pencil. When conducted online, the interviewer will supervise the writing for the entire duration and it will be sent through as a photograph when the student has completed the task. The writing prompt is open-ended and can be accessed by students from a wide range of language levels.

An example of a writing prompt is ‘Write about students and learning a second language’. A student with low-level English may write about their personal experience with learning a second language at their school whereas a student with higher-level English may write in a more formal-style format bringing multiple perspectives and providing a discussion. More sample questions can be found here.

For students with very low English language, the task will be adapted by the interviewer to provide more support and may start with the student drawing a picture in response to the prompt and developing sentences through conversation about the picture.

Interpreting and EPET Result

An EPET score is based on a written sample of work that is levelled against the Department for Education Literacy and Language Levels as they are aligned to a school Year level and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) phases. An Interview is conducted prior to the written assessment to provide valuable insight to the interviewer into the students spoken and verbal comprehension, but it does not impact the EPET score.

The example below shows that a student wanting enrolment into School Year Level 8 requires an EPET Score of 12，if student had an EPET Score of 8 and therefore will need 20 weeks of English for Academic Purpose (EAP) to achieve an EPET Score of 12.

Please note that on average, students will move 1 EPET Score every 5 weeks of ELICOS which will include good study habits and attendance.